FAQs / How It Works

The Message / Gumption

What is Gumption?

Isn’t the movie kinda old? Do kids today know Forrest Gump?

The movie Forrest Gump came out in July 1994. Yes … that before all of today’s students (K-12) were even born!

The good news is:

The Life Lessons from the movie are timeless

They are appropriate for today’s students

Almost 100% of the students have heard of the movie

Over 50% of the students in high school and middle school have seen the movie

Where did I get these statistics? I made them up. They are anecdotal. But I believe they are true.

Even the students who haven’t seen the movie know the phrase Life is like a box of chocolates … ya never know what you’re gonna get.

For the past 20 years I’ve been asked regularly, “What will you do when the movie is no longer remembered?”

My answer: “Maybe Tom Hanks will make another timeless movie and I’ll go from there.” 😆

It is true that movie is now 21 years old … but it’s life lessons are timeless.

School Participation

How do the schools / youth groups sign up?

If you are a school or youth group in Montana, you simply apply to have Steve speak to your group.

Blah, blah, blah

How much lead time do I need to signup?

The more time in advance you request a date, the more likely you are to get that date.

The Montana Student Gumption Tour has a limited number of openings each year so it’s a first come, first serve basis.

The closer you are to Western Montana, the easier it is to fill your requested date.

Blah, blah

Why does Steve try to schedule the majority of his school visits during the Spring and Fall?

Because Montana is a large state and because it lies above the 45th parrellel, we have severe winters … espeically in the eastern half of the State.

Etc.

Costs

How much do the schools have to pay?

Not a dime … all covered by sponsors

Will Steve speak to my youth group?

It depends …. but it doesn’t hurt to apply

Sponsors / Sponsorship

How is the Montana Student Gumption Tour funded?

Sponsors pay for Montana Student Gumption Tour 100%.

This includes:

How does sponsorship work?

Blah, blah …

How can I be a sponsor?

Absolutely!

All you need to do is …

I’d love to speak with you about becoming a sponsor

About Steve

Why does Steve want to do this? What’s his motivation?

In 2012, Steve had a vision.

Who does Steve work for?

Steve has three sets of bosses:

Sponsors

School Administrators

Students

Does Steve do everything himself or does he have a team?

Steve’s business model is very simple. He is a freelancer.

But that does not mean he works alone or totally independently. Steve has a very active and engaged support team.

To back up one step, Steve believes in getting paid for value provided and services rendered.

He is in the business of solving problems and create value for his clients. Likewise, he expects the same from his own team and he believes in paying for value and the services provided by others. Consequently, all of his team members are also independent contractors.

The Montana Student Gumption Tour — while grand in ambition and scope — is only a minor part of Steve’s overall business activity.

His primary business is working a Conference Host / Keynote Speaker for organization holding multi-day conventions and events. Many of the same team members who that support Steve with his Gumption Experience business, perform double-duty and assist as necessary with the Montana Student Gumption Tour project.

General team members who assist on all of Steve’s business activities including the Montana Student Gumption Tour are:

Legal council

Banking

Accounting

Bookkeeping

Insurance

Financial Advisers

Team members specific to the speaking business include:

Speaking coaches

Writing coaches

Editors

Other business team members include:

Graphics

Web Design

Technology & automation

Marketing & Sales

Video Production

Printing Services

Steve only works with people he trusts and likes. They must fundamentally understand his business, his business goals, and his business objectives. They provide essential support on a regular, ongoing, and as-needed basis.

As the Montana Student Gumption Tour ramps up, it is expected that the following specific, additional team members will be added when appropriate:

Speaking coaches with specific knowledge of students, the education system, and schools

Marketing advisers with specific knowledge of Montana’s schools

Public Relations

Book editors with specific knowledge of children’s books

Others, as required

Steve values the expertise of each and every one of his current and future team members.

They allow him live up to the high expectations he sets for both himself and with his clients.

If you have a specific expertise that you think the Montana Student Gumption Tour would benefit … please contact Steve at: steve@speakinggump.com

Connect with Steve

Professional Associations

Contact Steve

Forrest Gump is a fictitious character created in the book Forrest Gump, Winston Groom (1986) and the movie Forrest Gump, Paramount Pictures (1994). Steve Weber has been a look-alike, impersonator, and Tribute Artist portraying Forrest Gump since 1996. Although Steve Weber worked for the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. under license as Forrest Gump from 1996 to 2011, nothing herein is intended to imply sponsorship or affiliation with either Paramount Pictures or Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.